Manistee County Railroad/Train

A History of the American Legion Read-Osborne Post 531

By Anna Milks

July 21, 1991

When I was asked to write a history of Read-Osborne Post 531, I had no idea what a job
I was undertaking. The more I talked to people, the more research I did, the more convinced
I became that I couldn’t tell our story in one short article. I am going to be as brief as I can,
and if I forget someone’s favorite memory or someone’s name, please forgive me. Some
Post records were lost so some of my information is sketchy. If anyone can fill in names or dates, etc.,
give me the information and I will add it to the record.

The Post was founded in November, 1946 by a group of World War II veterans who felt a need
to belong to and organization such as the American Legion. Most of them and their families lived in
the Copemish area and surrounding townships. The first meetings were held in a building owned by
Estle and Anna Milks. This building was once a studio where Mr. Armstrong had a photography
business. Later, they met in the Copemish Council Rooms where facilities were better. The men
began to dream of a Post Home of their own. Headed by Cass Zabik, the thirty-three members set
out to make their dream come true.

The Post was named for two local young men who gave their lives in the service of their country
in World War II. One of them was Pvt. Loren Read, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Read, of Cleon
Township. Pvt. Read entered the army in March, 1943, and was assigned to the Medical Corps as
First Aid Man and Medical Aid Man. In July, 1944, he was sent to Hawaii. He was in the invasion of
Leyte, where on November 4, 1944, he gave his life going to the aid of a wounded comrade. He was
awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. His parents received a letter of condolence from
General Douglas MacArthur.

The other was Lt. George Osborne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Osborne, also of Cleon Township.
He entered the Air Corps in January, 1943. In October, 1944, he was assigned to the 15th Air Force
and was sent to Italy. He was in air raids on aircraft and tank factories in Germany, the Styx Ball-Bearing
Works, and the Ploesti oil fields. He lost his life when his plane was shot down over Austria.Lt. Osborne
was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge and one Bronze Cluster. His group twice received the
Presidential Citation for outstanding performance of duty.

With the help of Merritt Corbiss, and organizer for the 9th District and Mr. Holly, Commander of Manistee
Post 10, the new post became a reality. It was officially Read-Osborne Post 531. Now, a building was
needed and they set out to build one. Headed by Cass Zabik, the thirty-three Charter members went to
work.

The work began on a shoestring, with little money, much enthusiasm, and plenty of hard work.  The men
obtained CCC buildings from Wellston, tore them apart, and sold the lumber to get money to build their
Post Home. All labor was donated and people who owned a truck or other equipment loaned them to
the veterans. People gave money, time, and labor. It seemed as if everyone wanted to help. Cleon
Township and the Village of Copemish each donated $500.00. People say Springdale Township gave
$500.00 also. I have tried, but so far haven’t been able to verify that.

With money thus obtained, construction was begun on ground donated by Elton Dinger. Originally, a full
basement was dug and then partly filled in for lack of money to buy extra blocks and cement. The
building was put into use about 1948. That summer, the Auxiliary was formed. The first organizational
meeting was held at the home of Vera Rogers in Thompsonville, with Pearl Holly of Manistee who
helped us in many ways.The meeting was attended by Audrey Hysell, Bea Doneth, and me. Our first
officers were:

President - Anna Milks

Secretary - Audrey Hysell

Treasurer - Vera Rogers

Historian - Beatrice Doneth

There were at this time twenty-six Charter Members.

The Auxiliary lost no time going to work to help the men raise badly needed funds. While they sold raffle
tickets, held family dances, and made a dollar wherever they could, the women worked in the
lunchroom at the dances, produced plays, served dinners and chili suppers, held box socials, and so
on. Those were days of hard work and real dedication.

There was a time when this hall had a tile floor laid over cement. When people danced, moisture came
up through the tile, loosened the wax and created a muddy, slippery mess. People slipped and skidded
around, but no one seemed to mind because they were having a good time. When the problem
continued, a hardwood floor was laid.

Once the Auxiliary, a bunch of rank amateurs, produced a three act play. After weeks of rehearsal, we
were ready for the big night. We had problems with acoustics because we had no ceilings, but we did
our best. Things went well for a bit, but then it started to rain, and the noise of the rain on the tin roof
made it impossible for us to be heard. As I remember, we gave the play again in the school gym. I don’t
believe we made a lot of money on that project!

We had a basement kitchen where the women sold lunches at the dances. Our water supply was a
pitcher pump in another room, and we had to go to Thompsonville for ice to cool the pop we sold. Our
sink drain was a pail we emptied out back, which was where the outdoor plumbing facilities were located.

The creed of the Legion and Auxiliary is service to others. The Auxiliary sells poppies every year. These
poppies are made by veterans who are hospitalized. We buy poppies from them and they use the
money for little things they may need. For many, it is the only money they can earn. If a veteran is too
disabled to make poppies, his family is allowed to help him. The money we receive from the poppies
when we sell them is used to help disabled veterans and their families.

In the 1960’s the Auxiliary began to run Bingo games. As time went on, it became a good source of
income for us. We held our games on Friday nights; later, men started their Sunday afternoon Bingo
games. It now became easier to pay the bills , to improve the building, and to increase our investment
in the lives of people in trouble. We began to spend money in schools as well. We help anyone who is
in distress because of accident, illness or misfortune. That is the creed of the Legion and Auxiliary. 

We spend money on:

Little League Boys and Girls Baseball

4-H Projects

Children’s Christmas Parties

Boys and Girls State

Otter Lake Children’s Home

Medical Research - Cancer, etc.

Red Cross - United Fund, etc.

Christmas Baskets for the Needy

In addition, our building is maintained the year round as a Community Building. We have improved the
building and the parking lot. We have a well-equipped kitchen, clean, attractive restrooms, and tables
and chairs in plentiful supply. The hall is used for clas reunions, various meetings, and Christmas parties
for children and adults. It is also available for EMT classes, Scout meetings, etc. At one time, our hall
and Bingo equipment were used by firemen to earn money for a new fire truck.

Speaking of Bingo, once an Auxiliary project, it is now also the Legion’s main source of income. Our
volunteer workers are not paid. Our Bingo funds are used for community service projects. Out of Bingo
has come a project dear to me, our Scholarship Program. Having been a teacher, I value education and
have been in charge of the Scholarship Program from the beginning. Our eldest son, Herb, at the time
Principal at Maple City-Glen Lake Schools, suggested to me that we start a scholarship program. He
helped me set it up so that I could avoid probles or pitfalls. Then, I was lucky enough to have a good
committee to help me. This committee consists of Edna Chandler, Alice Dixon, and Gloriette Drobena.
They are able, faithful helpers and they have never let me down. 

Beginning in 1979, our Bingo netted enough money to enable us to award three scholarships of $500.00
each. To be eligible to apply, a person need only be related to a veteran of the United States Armed
Forces.

To date, counting the 1991 school year, we have invested more than $50,000.00 in education. By we,
I mean the Auxiliary and the Legion who have been helping us since they began their Sunday afternoon
Bingo. We have helped educate -  Teachers, Nurses, Social Workers, Secretaries, Mechanics,
Engineers of all kinds, Public Relations People, an Artist, a Chemist, and Optometrist, and Architect,
and a Psychiatrist.

Memorial Day is a special day for us. Our men are up at dawn, raising Colors at the Post and the Post
Office. They then go to surrounding towns and to cemeteries where they repeat the service. They are
there in any weather to attend the funeral of any serviceman. I have stood and watched these men,
most of them no longer young, and as the sound of Taps echoed through the air, I have always been
so proud. They will repeat the ritual, no matter what the weather, for any veteran whose family requests
it.

AUXILIARY CHARTER MEMBERS

Kathryn Ashcraft

Catherine Baughman

Sarah Baughman

Ollamae Bower

Bertha Cribbs

Barbara Cribbs

La Neah Cheylava

Gladys Dinger

Vivian Dinger

Goldie Dinger

Beatrice Doneth

Mary Egan

Lillian Finan

Audrey Hysell

Anna Milks

Della Milks

Lena Milliron

Eva Romsek

Genevieve Read

Vera Rogers

Alice Scarbrough

Malvina Scarbrough

Vivian Scarbrough

Mary Terwilliger

Mary Thompson

Pearl Williams

PAST AUXILIARY PRESIDENTS

1948  Anna Milks

1949  Anna Milks

1950  Anna Milks

1951  Beatrice Doneth

1952  Audrey Hysell

1953  Vera Rogers

1954  Lois Brown

1955  Beverly Smith

1956  June Smith

1957  Alice Scarbrough

1958  Bertha Cribbs

1959  Bertha Cribbs

1960  Betty Skurski

1961  Mae Fitzner

1962  Lois Brown

1963  Gene Pawlak

1964  Ruby Collins

1965  Ivora Crane

1966  Ivora Crane

1967  Rita Carpenter

1968  Vivian Dinger

1969  Sarah Baughman

1970  Betty Skurski

1971  Barbara Usher

1972  Barbara Usher

1973  Barbara Usher

1974  Lois Brown

1975  Rita Russell

1976  Rita Russell

1977  Rita Russell

1978  Rita Russell

1979  Audrey Hysell

1980  Audrey Hysell

1981  Lois Foucart

1982  Mabel Cole

1983  Manel Cole

1984  Lillian Overmyer

1985  Elsie Krimm

1986  Dorothy Hill

          Jackie Isbell

1987  Vivian Dinger

1988  Mable Cole

1989  Mable Cole

1990  Edna Chandler

1991  Edna Chandler

1992  Virginia Kocher

POST CHARTER MEMBERS

Casimir Zabik

Elton Dinger

Max Bargerstock

Floyd Bower

George Doneth

Gordon Doneth

William Romsek

John Abshire

Wallace Humphrey

Earl Holmes

Donald Dinger

Paul Egan

Patrick Baughman

Otis Conrad

Estle Milks

Konstanty Borkowski

Harold Hysell

David Bower

Hubert Milks

Bernard Dobryzinski

Harold Flynn

Charles Mlcek

Alvin Selander

James O’Neal

Charles Cribbs

Lawrence Smith

Winston Crow

John H. Doneth

Theodore Rudman, Jr.

George Cheylava

Henry Chandler

Theodore Somero

John L. Romsek

PAST POST COMMANDERS

1947  Casimir Zabik

1948  Harry Rogers

1949  Harry Rogers

1950  Ervin Baughman

1951  Frank Haynes

1952  Harry Rogers

1953  L.C. Smith

1954  Paul Drobena

1955  William B. Dixon

1956  John Romsek

1957  Ray Brown

1958  Herb Kellogg

1959  Harry Rogers

1960  William Dunham

1961  Elton Dinger

1962  Harold Kransi

1963  Robert Ewing

1964  Howard Williams

1965  Walter Edwards, Jr.

1966  Lawrence Ketchum

1967  Llewellyn Crane

1968  Tracy Windrim

1969  Elton Dinger

1970  Herb Kellogg

1971  Robert Ewing

1972  Ray Dunn

1973  Robert Kellogg

1974  Arthur Clous

1975  Maynard Elliott

1976  Don Kellogg

1977  Robert Kellogg

1978  Russell Smith

1979  Ken Ramsay

1980  Leo Foucart

1981  Henry Chandler

1982  John Vondra

1983  Don Winchell

1984  Charles Vondra

1985  Don WInchell

1986  Henry Chandler

1987  Leonard Pierce

1988  Ken Wood

1989  Russell Smith

1990  William Spoor

1991  Charles Crane